Final Fantasy XIII

 Xbox 360
User Score
6.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 692 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 312 out of 692
  2. Mixed: 174 out of 692
  3. Negative: 206 out of 692
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  1. Risolu
    Aug 2, 2023
    10
    Still one of the best FFs in the series. Probably the best music among all FFs. Every chapter is a different and beautiful world. I dont care about how linear it is. FF7R was linear too and still loved. Also the endgame content is incredible. There is no FF with that many challenging bosses or things to do post game. The mythology is extremely deep. Probably the most complex world among all FFs
  2. Frenchhouse91
    Jun 24, 2023
    8
    The Xbox Series X version is a must. Best looking game of its generation, incredibly frustrating but also captivating. Not every main character is a winner, but Sazh is one of the best in the entire franchise.
  3. ZRHILDE
    Apr 6, 2023
    10
    Un gioco davvero bello sottovalutatissimo all uscita e rivalutato con l uscita xbox
  4. neomoonsevin
    Jan 21, 2023
    10
    Took me years to understand where squarenix was going in terms of the mechanics and class switching I had play this years ago but back then I didn't like this but I endured and understood only afew weeks ago now I am keen to see the end now great game great franchise
  5. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this thirteenth game in the series.
  6. wmurphy011
    Sep 27, 2022
    10
    While the Xbox version is inferior to Playstation (as all cross platform Games are) it's still and amazing game. The magic here is not lost.

    Be aware of a massive number of falsely posted negative reviews for this game for each console. This was one of the first video games to be review bombed by people who have never played it. I have spoken to countless people over the years who try to    While the Xbox version is inferior to Playstation (as all cross platform Games are) it's still and amazing game. The magic here is not lost.

    Be aware of a massive number of falsely posted negative reviews for this game for each console. This was one of the first video games to be review bombed by people who have never played it. I have spoken to countless people over the years who try to tall me it's not a good game. Every single time, these people prove that they've never even played the game. I always ask them about a certain, major, plot point that happens early in the game and they never have any idea as to what I'm talking about.    … Expand
  7. TheGreatNikakis
    Aug 4, 2022
    10
    A very late review, but i had to write it. Being the first game i've played in a major console i'm probably biased while scoring this game. The good parts of the game are the battle systems, the visual effects and the it's music, with all three being incredible. I also loved it's liner nature. However, the characters, besides Lightning and maybe Snow are not memorable and the story is kindA very late review, but i had to write it. Being the first game i've played in a major console i'm probably biased while scoring this game. The good parts of the game are the battle systems, the visual effects and the it's music, with all three being incredible. I also loved it's liner nature. However, the characters, besides Lightning and maybe Snow are not memorable and the story is kind of convoluted. A more objective rating should be a 7.… Expand
  8. Doke
    Feb 17, 2022
    10
    [ J'écris cette critique et je met la note de 10 pour compenser les autres notes que je considère excessivement basses ]

    La critique comportera quatres grand axes : en premier les musiques, en deuxième les décors, en troisième les personnages, en quatrième les graphismes et en cinquième le gameplay [ Je ne traiterai pas l'histoire car j'estime que c'est à l'appréciation de chacun ] Avant    [ J'écris cette critique et je met la note de 10 pour compenser les autres notes que je considère excessivement basses ]

    La critique comportera quatres grand axes : en premier les musiques, en deuxième les décors, en troisième les personnages, en quatrième les graphismes et en cinquième le gameplay [ Je ne traiterai pas l'histoire car j'estime que c'est à l'appréciation de chacun ]

    Avant propos : Je n'ai pas vraiment l'habitude de donner mon avis sur les jeux vidéos et encore moins sur un opus de la saga "Final Fantasy" car je dois l'avouer qu'avant l'achat de ce jeu je ne portai pas vraiment cette série dans mon cœur. Je trouvai leurs systèmes de combat dépassé et je ne comprenais pas l'engouement autour, mais mon avis a changer depuis la découverte de ce jeux : Final Fantasy 13 ; et j'ai beaucoup apprécié, malgré quelques défaut.
    Néanmoins je trouve certains reproches fait au jeux excessifs Première partie : I) Les musiques Ce sera probablement l'un des points qui a provoquer le moins de débats au sein de la communauté. La presse et les joueurs ( y compris moi ) sont unanimes pour dires que les musiques de ce jeux sont excellentes, et c'est VRAI ! Les musiques sont nombreuses variées et s'adaptent particulièrement bien au différentes situations. Le seul petit reproche que j'aurai à faire serai au niveau de la musique des combat qui est à mon goût un peut trop répétitive, des musiques différentes pour les combats auraient été le mieux.

    II) Les décors Encore un fois, l'un des points où la presse et les joueurs étaient unanimes, les décors sont - tout comme les musiques - très beau et riches en détail mais par la même occasion assez frustrant car nous ne pouvons pas les explorer à cause de linéarité du jeu.

    III ) Les personnages Je ne voulais pas traiter ce point à la base car à l'instar du scénario, je pense que cela relève des goûts de chacun mais je le fais quand même car je fais ce que je veux. Je trouve les personnages globalement bon malgré que certains soient légèrement énervants comme Vanille ou Hope ( mais pas autant que certains le prétendent ). C'est aussi assez frustrant de voir Lightning rester aussi froide avec ses coéquipiers tout au long du jeu.

    IV) Les graphismes J'aurais très bien pu réunir les graphismes et les décors en un point mais encore une fois je fait ce que je veux. Je vais être très simple, ils sont super superbes et la qualité des grandes cinématiques sont même au dessus de ce que l'on a parfois en 2022.

    V) Le gameplay Ce point ce sera divisé en deux sous parties : la partie "a" traitera le gameplay hors combat et la partie "b" traitera les phases de combats a) C'est peut être le plus gros défauts du jeux : la linéarité du jeu, ont doit se contenter de se balader dans des longs couloirs ce qui limite l'exploration et est donc un peu frustrant. Ce sentiment est renforcé par les décors. Mais côté je le dis que ça évite au jeu de tomber dans le piège de monde ouvert vide et ennuyeux.
    Les personnages dont agréables à contrôler et les menus sont ergonomiques b) Les combats font une grande partie de l'intérêt du jeu. Même si dans 2 premières heures il peuvent paraître répétitif, tout change quand vous débloquez les stratégies qui rendent les combats beaucoup plus stratégiques. Malheureusement le jeux est globalement facile même si les boss vont vous donner du fil à retordre.

    [ C'était ma première critique donc soyez indulgent ]    … Expand
  9. Evolvedsoul
    Sep 14, 2021
    10
    My favorite Final Fantasy…I’m very sorry that I love this game so much, I’m sure that I love everything that some people hate . I grew up in Hawaii, I different tastes , I like beautiful characters, not ugly sjw ones f of go make your own wile games that nobody will play
  10. Tomoncio
    Aug 27, 2021
    8
    Muchos consideran esta entrega la peor de toda la saga, pero yo le he dado una segunda oportunidad a Final Fantasy XIII y hoy lo disfruto con otra mentalidad y puedo decir que ni de lejos es el peor Final Fantasy. Jugablemente está más "automatizado" que otras entregas, pero no es tan simple como sólo pulsar A en los combates: los roles y las formaciones son muy importantes y tienes queMuchos consideran esta entrega la peor de toda la saga, pero yo le he dado una segunda oportunidad a Final Fantasy XIII y hoy lo disfruto con otra mentalidad y puedo decir que ni de lejos es el peor Final Fantasy. Jugablemente está más "automatizado" que otras entregas, pero no es tan simple como sólo pulsar A en los combates: los roles y las formaciones son muy importantes y tienes que saber controlar cualquier situación y cambiar formaciones si lo requiere. Existen 6 roles en total: algunos se enfocan más en el ataque, otros en la curación, otros en aumentar tus estadísticas, otros en reducir la fuerza y defensa del rival, etc... Por si fuera poco, cada personaje es más afín a unos roles que otros. Por todo ello, finalmente los combates no son tan sencillos, además de la importancia de combatir y desarrollar el Cristarium, un sistema de desarrollo que recuerda al visto en Final Fantasy X. Aparte de esto, estéticamente es precioso y gráficamente una pasada que, además, se disfruta mejor en XBOX One X y Series X|S, ya que incluyen mejoras gráficas respecto a 360. Así mismo, la historia es genial, incluyendo una base de datos que te aclara cualquier duda, ya sea de los episodios, de acontecimientos previos, personajes, lugares, etc. Si todavía piensas que es el peor juego, te animo a que le des una segunda oportunidad y comprendas bien el funcionamiento de las formaciones y roles. De lo contrario, es imposible que disfrutes de un Final Fantasy que, en contra de lo que muchos piensen, no es ni de lejos el peor de la saga.

    (Valoración realizada en base al título de XBOX 360 jugado con mejoras gráficas en XBOX Series S)    … Expand
  11. BeeSting1
    Jan 1, 2021
    9
    linear progression and button mash is the first half of the game. Second half tests your speed and paradigm knowledge.

    Gameplay: 7.5/10 You have probably heard, but this game is very linear. What I mean by that is each area you are in is basically point A to point B. Even when you look at the map of the area you are in, it looks like a narrow path with very few branches. They have    linear progression and button mash is the first half of the game. Second half tests your speed and paradigm knowledge.

    Gameplay: 7.5/10
    You have probably heard, but this game is very linear. What I mean by that is each area you are in is basically point A to point B. Even when you look at the map of the area you are in, it looks like a narrow path with very few branches.

    They have taken quite a new approach to the battling system. It is not turn based. You are just able to control one character, and the AI controls the rest, based on what role you have set the rest of your team to have. It has its good and it has its bad. You have paradigms in which you can set your players as a medic, ravenger, commando, synergist or saboteur. A medic's role is to heal; a ravenger's is to cast magic attack spells; a commando's role is a lot of physical attacks; a synergist casts spells that buff your team; a saboteur casts spells that de-buffs the opponent. In the beginning, there is a lot of button mashing. You are basically only selecting the same command since you have not acquired any new roles or attacks. However, later on in the game when you have your roles and commands mastered. It is very intense, especially in the boss fights. Your victory will be based on whether you have chosen the right paradigms and the speed at which u command and switch.

    What kills it for a lot of gamers is the combination of this game's super linear progression, and button mashing combat for the first half of the game. I can conclude that it was pretty annoying when I had to just button mash to win.

    Graphics: 10/10
    The graphics are amazing in this game. The environments and design are beautiful. In-game graphics and the highly rendered cut scenes are both very good. The reflections, shadows and the concentration on details are really breath taking.

    Story: 9/10
    The story is decent, but I would say a few other Final Fantasys before this definitely had a better story. I would describe it in more detail but a period of time has passed since I beat it, so I can't remember it all. The cut scenes did a good job in building the characters. And I really liked how as the story progressed certain characters learned and matured then eventually changed for the better. However, some deeper details about the story have to be read in one of the options in the menu.

    Replay value:
    The only real replay value you can get from FF13 a run through it is the side jobs the fal'cie have that are lying around in the field. They are side missions in where you have to go and defeat a certain group of monsters. In my opinion, there was not much incentive to go back and do that.

    Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed my review please add me and track me. I will write more.    … Expand
  12. iKen
    Apr 13, 2020
    8
    Played on XBOX 360.
    Gameplay: GREAT.
    Story: GOOD.
    Graphic: GREAT.
    Music/Sound: GOOD.
    Dialogue/Voice Acting: GOOD.
  13. SOTZ
    Apr 11, 2020
    9
    Lightning's and the bands journey in this journey is a straightforward and flawed experience.
    Perhaps dialogue in my opinion is one of the worst offenders to prevent a liking to this game. But apart from that, this romp through the beautiful looking locations, the game presents us with an eye popping art design, fantastic world building, endearing characters once u piece together their    Lightning's and the bands journey in this journey is a straightforward and flawed experience.
    Perhaps dialogue in my opinion is one of the worst offenders to prevent a liking to this game. But apart from that, this romp through the beautiful looking locations, the game presents us with an eye popping art design, fantastic world building, endearing characters once u piece together their tales, interesting well crafted (if not well told through the story) lore and an incredible soundtrack to listen to and monsters to behold.
    That said The greatest achievement of this game is the monumental iteration in the ATB system that's fun, stretegic, fast and brutal.
    This is the system that Square should have kept iterating upon and moved forward with.
    FFXIII is an interesting game and an interesting look into the series history now after all the years of hype, hate & love is over.    … Expand
  14. 22446688Bb
    Aug 5, 2019
    10
    Trio 13 is excellent in all respects, offering an excellent story with very famous characters. Turns out to be like the old parts.
  15. SolarConker
    Jan 21, 2019
    10
    I don't care what anyone says about this game, this game has an amazing story, characters and such a deep lore that most people get lost into and just say the game is full of plot holes all these reasons and much more is why this isn't just my favourite Final Fantasy but also my favourite game of all time
  16. Xplocion
    Nov 20, 2018
    9
    * The good things: The design of characters, the graphics today are spectacular (the cinematic also), an excellent story to know, Lightining is an excellent central character and strong character that is opening as the game progresses, the soundtrack is very good (recommended OST), the battle against the final boss, defeat the final boss returns to chapter 13 to continue with the missing* The good things: The design of characters, the graphics today are spectacular (the cinematic also), an excellent story to know, Lightining is an excellent central character and strong character that is opening as the game progresses, the soundtrack is very good (recommended OST), the battle against the final boss, defeat the final boss returns to chapter 13 to continue with the missing missions, if you want to defeat the most powerful monsters you must deactivate self-action and develop the Cristarium full

    * The bad things: centered on the story that is told (until chapter 13, which is where the game opens to the exploration), you can only invoke the Eidolons once per battle, if the leader dies the game ends, untapped characters (Cid Raynes, Jhill Nabaat and others), nobody explains the stones or the final weapons, the Cristarium shows a false idea of ​​freedom in the personalization of attributes and abilities

    * The meh! things: this game has been judged by people who have not finished it, it has other things Final Fantasy - Enemy forgettable (FF2), separated into teams to know its history (FF4 / FF6 / FF9), forgettable characters (FF5 ), at the end of the Cristarium all the characters do everything (FF7), walk down the corridor (FF10), there are no cities and you can not go back on your steps (FF2 / FF4 / FF10), you get to an open area to hunt monsters and do missions (FF10 / FF12).    … Expand
  17. velikaplana
    Jul 7, 2018
    8
    There are some elements that keep Final Fantasy XIII from being everything it could have been. Even so, it is still a legitimately great game for its stunning beauty, fantastic story, and enjoyable battles, which means it has a lot in common with the Final Fantasy games that came before it. The stubborn gal in the blue sari, the steely blue-eyed star, and even the apprehensive,There are some elements that keep Final Fantasy XIII from being everything it could have been. Even so, it is still a legitimately great game for its stunning beauty, fantastic story, and enjoyable battles, which means it has a lot in common with the Final Fantasy games that came before it. The stubborn gal in the blue sari, the steely blue-eyed star, and even the apprehensive, spiky-haired adolescent are easy to root for, and their journey is as memorable as any other in the series. Even if the gameplay doesn't reach those same heights, almost any RPG lover can still get lost in Final Fantasy XIII.… Expand
  18. KjoDevilHunterS
    Jul 1, 2018
    10
    This game is great.
    It's an roller-coaster of an experience.
    The Main-Story is good
    Lightning is one of the most badass characters of all time.
    Soundtrack is one of the best.
    Graphics has aged well.
  19. Captivate
    Nov 9, 2017
    9
    One of the better FF's in recent memory. The world design is more linear than you're used to, and the story can be a little confusing at times, but (most) of the characters are presented in a very nice way and develop in a natural way as the game goes on. The new combat system is definitely an improvement over the typical JRPG style, and the art design and music in the game is one of theOne of the better FF's in recent memory. The world design is more linear than you're used to, and the story can be a little confusing at times, but (most) of the characters are presented in a very nice way and develop in a natural way as the game goes on. The new combat system is definitely an improvement over the typical JRPG style, and the art design and music in the game is one of the best in the series. Definitely worth a playthrough, regardless of the unnecessary hate it gets.… Expand
  20. Gerard51MX
    Jun 22, 2016
    8
    siento que han sido muy injustos con las criticas hacia este juego, pero hay que ser honestos... es dificil, muy dificil complacer a los amantes de los rpg, y mas a los seguidores de la saga final fantasy... square enix lo tiene muy dificil despues de darnos obras como las que nos ha dado... creo que ahi recidela mala critica a este titulo... no se puede complacer a todos los usuarios, sisiento que han sido muy injustos con las criticas hacia este juego, pero hay que ser honestos... es dificil, muy dificil complacer a los amantes de los rpg, y mas a los seguidores de la saga final fantasy... square enix lo tiene muy dificil despues de darnos obras como las que nos ha dado... creo que ahi recidela mala critica a este titulo... no se puede complacer a todos los usuarios, si cambian el estilo de juego es malo para los mas conservadores, y algo freso para los nuevos y los que quieren algo diferente... el mundo se siente lineal y cerrado pero para los seguidores de las primeras ediciones esto es un fiasco, y si fuera abierto se criticaria que se pierde la historia y es innecesariamente abierto... en fin. Graficamente no hay que decir, de lomejor de la saga, la musica es una extraña combinacion entre lo clasico y electronico, a veces funciona y a veces no, los controles son buenos y añaden algo de accion a la saga, la estrategia no falta, siempre sera parte de la saga, la historia me gusto, no la mejor pero creo que la personalidad de los protagonistas ayuda demasiado, esas misiones en las que nos quedamos a solas con algun miembro del equipo y escuchamos su historia y sus motivos... que genialidad, el reto es algo bajo a mi parecer, hay enemigos fuertes, como siempre, pero no alcanza una dificultad demasiado grande; cosa aparte es la manera de adquirir habilidades y subir nivel.... deja bastante que desear. Lo recomiendo solo si estas dispuesto a recibirlo con mente abierta, no esperando un final fantasy con lo mismo de siempre y claro, para los seguidores de los rpg… Expand
  21. ClassicRPM
    Aug 27, 2015
    8
    Amazing, stunning graphics. Some of the best animation cinematics I have ever seen in a videogame, Square Enix took a brave step, and moved its biggest franchise into a more direct style of gameplay. No more open world, no more secondary stories, no more visiting shops and talking to villagers. Instead, a long corridor to walk through for hours while beating enemies, with numerousAmazing, stunning graphics. Some of the best animation cinematics I have ever seen in a videogame, Square Enix took a brave step, and moved its biggest franchise into a more direct style of gameplay. No more open world, no more secondary stories, no more visiting shops and talking to villagers. Instead, a long corridor to walk through for hours while beating enemies, with numerous cutscenes in the middle.

    The plot is good, maybe not the best in the franchise but definitely better than what we are used to in the current generation. In my opinion, the characters seem quite annoying in the beginning, but they evolve during the game and get more interesting and complex.

    The combat system might seem awkward in the beginning, but by the end of the game (which took me around 40 hours to finish, a very decent number) you might think it is very fun and challenging. Each boss fight needs strategy and planification, but also agility to switch your team formations in the middle of the battle to be able to survive.
    The main problem in this game, though, is the high difficulty of some enemies. The nature of this game is that of a corridor (we go from point A to point B to proceed in the story, and we cannot go anywhere else), so training your characters needs some extra motivation. In other RPGs, exploring a dungeon or a mysterious area might be a good excuse to level up and get nice items before you face the "big boss". In FF XIII, you are sometimes rewarded very little for fighting hardcore creatures; and very much for fighting 4 or 5 weak enemies. This is something I find unfair, and it does not encourage training your squad. What you might do instead is to find one single enemy that is easy to beat and rewards you with a lot of experience points, and repeat this fight many times. This will be the most time-efficient manner of leveling your squad, which is a pity. However, this was corrected in FF XIII-2, and that is a point for the guys of Square Enix.

    In conclusion, this is a very good (but linear) RPG. Probably it was meant to be more accessible for the public, with great graphics and an intuitive gameplay. This disappointed the fans of the saga, which I understand.
    One might not mention this game when it comes to define the Final Fantasy franchise... But its name might sound in the "top 10 Japanese RPGs" of the Xbox360-PS3 generation.    … Expand
  22. Gold458
    Jul 31, 2014
    10
    Ah Final Fantasy XIII a game that is hated and loved by many at the same time. I love this game. This game is gorgeous, the battle system was pretty cool, and the story was simple at least for me to follow. I love the character development this game has. Overall I love this game a lot. I recommend you try it.
  23. quickster6243
    Jun 25, 2014
    9
    I have played every single Final Fantasy game except for the ones on handheld devices and the MMO ones. Square made one huge mistake with this release and that was calling it Final Fantasy. People have really high expectations for this series because it literally is one of the last good JRPG series out and frankly? Square has done better than this. This game is by no means WHATSOEVER a badI have played every single Final Fantasy game except for the ones on handheld devices and the MMO ones. Square made one huge mistake with this release and that was calling it Final Fantasy. People have really high expectations for this series because it literally is one of the last good JRPG series out and frankly? Square has done better than this. This game is by no means WHATSOEVER a bad game though! I couldn't put it down because the story is amazing. The graphics are amazing. OMFG the graphics are so good. Even in 2014 the cut scenes are like WHOA! The music is great. From what I remember about every Final Fantasy Square always brought at least that to the table except for the music on X-2 (really?). The bad? The game is super linear. I still put in about 65 hours in this game from start to finish only doing about half of the side content. The side content is not that great. It's just a bunch of monster slayer missions. You have the opportunity to get your group super OP and take down super OP mobs. Who has time for that anyway? Not me. I was semi thankful towards the end that the first 2 cds were so linear. The content is still astounding though if you compare 60 hours to the 25 hours it takes to beat Final Fantasy 2(US release) for the SNES. Think about it. They made this super linear and it still takes at least 45-50 hours to play through your first time. Do yourself a favor. Forget about the other Final Fantasy games and play this with an unbiased opinion. You will probably like it. I know I did when looking at it like that.… Expand
  24. LordDeathsama
    May 29, 2014
    8
    First of all, all those nostalgic fanboys should shut their **** mouths. Seriously FFVII is not so good, so stop praising it so much. Now to you FFXIII. I like it. Visuals are one of the best in the entire console generation. The battlesystem may seem really dull and easy because of the auto buttin, but Battles will get challenging, I mean a lot challenging. Story I nice, and yes you canFirst of all, all those nostalgic fanboys should shut their **** mouths. Seriously FFVII is not so good, so stop praising it so much. Now to you FFXIII. I like it. Visuals are one of the best in the entire console generation. The battlesystem may seem really dull and easy because of the auto buttin, but Battles will get challenging, I mean a lot challenging. Story I nice, and yes you can read the stuff up, but everything that is important for the story will be explained. The things you actually read is lore, it's like reading all the boss souls in Dark Souls. Character overall meh. Lightning is groomy most of the time, ok she lost her parents when she was a kid and now she lost her sister. Snow can get annoying, but in chapter 7 he opens himself a bit. Hope is a whiny **** at first, but is also getting quite the character development in chapter 7. Sazh is the best character and a reasonable. Vanille seems at first glance annoying, but you will realize that she is carrying a burden and only hides her actual feelings. Fangs is the badass that every Final Fantasy has. There is also a reason within the story that there are no towns, so I can forgive the developer for this. And yes the game is linear but so was FFX.
    But what I think this game could have needed is more end game content.    … Expand
  25. Soujirop
    Apr 23, 2014
    9
    I honestly don't know why you would objectively give this game a bad score. Amazing graphics, amazing music, amazing story. The only thing you can complain is that in terms of gameplay it is quite limited for an RPG, specially for a Final Fantasy. But it is clear they have focused a lot on the story, which is the keystone of Final Fantasy, its essence, and this game haven't lost that ATI honestly don't know why you would objectively give this game a bad score. Amazing graphics, amazing music, amazing story. The only thing you can complain is that in terms of gameplay it is quite limited for an RPG, specially for a Final Fantasy. But it is clear they have focused a lot on the story, which is the keystone of Final Fantasy, its essence, and this game haven't lost that AT ALL. Also the new combat system is great and seems the natural evolution of the classic turn-based combat, and battles are very challenging, some are among the most difficult of the entire saga.… Expand
  26. Cursedwind
    Mar 2, 2014
    8
    Ok this is gonna piss off a lot of people but.....i enjoyed this game....a LOT.....the story in my opinion was great and the battle system,even though it was kind of press a button to win,wasnt that bad....even though i love seeing the characters in this game fight like they are in an anime i have SOME problems.....for example if your main character in your party dies,you lose unless youOk this is gonna piss off a lot of people but.....i enjoyed this game....a LOT.....the story in my opinion was great and the battle system,even though it was kind of press a button to win,wasnt that bad....even though i love seeing the characters in this game fight like they are in an anime i have SOME problems.....for example if your main character in your party dies,you lose unless you have called an eidolon/aeon/summon and thats another HUGE problem in the game.....most of the time eidolon battles come at the worst of moments....translation you only have 1 or 2 party members when you fight them and they are almost always pre-selected...the ONLY good eidolon battle i can remember is the bahamut one because you can use whoever you want in your party and you have 3 PARTY MEMBERS!!!! And you are controlling fang which,in my opinion,is the best commando in the game.Now lets talk about the leveling up system.....i dont hate it......i hate it in 13-2 but thats a story for another time....what i meant by not hating it is that while i like growing stronger in certain classes and gaining special boosts that help you in all the classes is pretty cool.....what is not cool is some story bosses stopping your progression in the crystal leveling up system.....ok back to the good stuff of this game,like the music,while not perfect 10/10,is pretty catchy and sometimes really touching.....by far the best music comes in the form of background music which continues to be great in all the 13 games and with each new game,they get better. Another thing i love is that almost everyone can learn the same moves as others but still feel unique,unlike ff7's materia system.You might want to de-buff the enemy,buff yourself AND be protected at the same time and you can do that by having a sentinel(or guard) a synergist(or buffer) and a saboteur(or de-buffer) in your party.....and just so you know,no you are not bound to this choice in each battle...you can actually change the battle formation with a push of a button.That is actually pretty damn awesome because you might want to be safe but still deal some damage,or wanting to make the enemy staggered quickly with 2 ravagers(black mages) and 1 commando(warrior) in your party....i wouldn't QUITE recommend the game to everyone because its too linear for a final fantasy game and all of that....but if you are ready to see this game as its own game then you will enjoy it like i did… Expand
  27. msherry9
    Jan 16, 2014
    9
    Let me start off by first saying that this is easily one of the best Final Fantasy games out there right now. Ever since I finished Final Fantasy X's epic storyline, I've been yearning for another Final Fantasy game to come along that can emulate the emotions that I had felt all those years ago. I'm happy to say that I have indeed found that game in the form of Final Fantasy XIII. I'veLet me start off by first saying that this is easily one of the best Final Fantasy games out there right now. Ever since I finished Final Fantasy X's epic storyline, I've been yearning for another Final Fantasy game to come along that can emulate the emotions that I had felt all those years ago. I'm happy to say that I have indeed found that game in the form of Final Fantasy XIII. I've slowly come to realize that most fans either love the game or absolutely hate it and I can understand both sides of the spectrum. Graphically, even by today's standards, FFXIII is one of the sharpest looking games out there. Character models still look extremely solid and the environments and cutscenes are absolutely gorgeous. The game features an entirely made-from-scratch world with its own rich history and extremely deep lore that is presented in spot-on fashion so as to not overwhelm the player with too many details. Now, moving on to the core aspects of the game, starting with the storyline. As mentioned earlier, FFXIII's story is one of hope. It's about setting out to accomplish something, rather than sitting around wishing you could, when others say it is impossible. Admittedly, it's not exactly the most unique message a video game has ever conveyed, but the manner in which it is presented is spectacular. The story starts off focused on Lightning Farron (whose real first name is revealed later), a Guardian Corps. soldier whose sister becomes branded by a demigod-like being called a Fal'Cie. Those that are branded, called l'Cie, have what's called a Focus, which is a single objective that must be accomplished in a limited amount of time. If the l'Cie fails to carry out their Focus in the time given, they turn into mindless demonic creatures called Cie'th. However, if they do carry out their Focus successfully, they turn into crystal to sleep for all of eternity, which isn't exactly much better. Without giving away too much more, Lightning desperately tries to help her sister out of this impossible situation. By far, this is one of the most stellar endings, in my opinion, to any video I've ever played, neatly wrapping up all loose ends and satisfying the player. The game features an extraordinary cast of hit-or-miss characters. My friend hated every single party member while I grew fond of every one of them. Each of them features an engaging backstory and personality and I actually cared deeply what happened to them as the story progressed. The game's score is absolutely fantastic and suits the game's tone and atmosphere perfectly. Moving on to actual gameplay, many critics fault the game for its extreme linearity and I wholeheartedly agree. This is easily one of the most linear games you will ever play, with very little to no side-missions or objectives to accomplish. The side missions that are available (late in the game) are nothing more than monster-slaying missions and a majority of them offer rewards that barely warrant the time and effort put into these challenging battles. In fact, the majority of the game is very challenging. The game lacks any sort of difficulty setting and so if you're a very casual gamer, you may want to steer clear of this one. Personally, I enjoy challenging video games but this game was just downright frustrating at times. I honestly don't even know how they expect you to win some of the fights without maxing out your characters. The game's battle system is a healthy combination of turn-based combat and a fast-paced action game. It's difficult to describe in a few sentences but it is extremely satisfying without becoming a mindless button-masher. Triumphing over rough boss fights is a real treat that truly tests your skills as a gamer. Fortunately, you can "Retry" any battle mid-fight, which resets your character to right before you engaged the enemy, and the save systems throughout the game are very generous. Overall, Final Fantasy XIII is a treat of a video game. Boasting sharp visuals, an intelligently-satisfying battle system, a fantastic cast of characters, an emotionally engaging storyline and an absolutely stellar ending, this truly is the Final Fantasy game that all fans should play.… Expand
  28. Rox22
    Sep 11, 2013
    8
    Another good but flawed FF game, Square really do have a pattern going here. At least it'S a positive one.

    FF XIII has gotten ALLOT of criticism on it's linearity, but in fairness the linear gameplay was a necessity to drive the story forward, so I can forgive it. In fact, once it opens up (after you finish the game) there is a ton of exploration that can be done a but loads of    Another good but flawed FF game, Square really do have a pattern going here. At least it'S a positive one.

    FF XIII has gotten ALLOT of criticism on it's linearity, but in fairness the linear gameplay was a necessity to drive the story forward, so I can forgive it. In fact, once it opens up (after you finish the game) there is a ton of exploration that can be done a but loads of challenges just begging to be completed.

    The graphics and animation are some of the best the series has ever seen. Every cutscene is breathtakingly beautiful. Lightning is just a great protagonist that comes off a bit flat and mysterious at first, but as the game progresses you learn that she has so much depth, she just hides it very well. The other characters are alright. Fang is damn hot!!!! Hope is so damn whiny and I really do not like his personality.

    Combat is a little confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it and all options open up it is allot of fun as it relies on the player using more tact than finesse (ie what the action-junkies complain about.)

    Overall:
    Final Fantasy XIII is pretty much a standard FF game as a whole. It lacks the openness the previous games had, but in exchange we get a far rich story and plot.    … Expand
  29. Skals
    Jan 8, 2013
    8
    The problem with this game, was that it was way too linear. Square Enix basically made a game compromising of 13 chapters and about 50 side quests, and then they made the players wait till Chapter 11 before they could even start doing any of the 50 side quests. Their justification for this was that the combat system is completely new to the series, and that players need extra time to learnThe problem with this game, was that it was way too linear. Square Enix basically made a game compromising of 13 chapters and about 50 side quests, and then they made the players wait till Chapter 11 before they could even start doing any of the 50 side quests. Their justification for this was that the combat system is completely new to the series, and that players need extra time to learn it, but they took it a bit too far, forcing us to play past 40 hours of content before the real game began.
    But if we set that aside, everything else about the game is amazing. I did everything in this game. The strongest monster in the game was a big harmless grass eating turtle, who was so massive you had to break it's legs before it would fall down and then you could deal damage to it's head. I thought that was kinda unnecessary and a bit over the top, but go figure.
    I loved the story and loved the combat system past the first 40 hours. 8/10 for the Xbox version as it's graphics are not as good as the PS3 versions.    … Expand
  30. Merr
    Dec 28, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the best games of this generation of consoles. Beautiful graphics, interesting story, great world, deep characters, nice battle system.

    Only - is closed-corridors levels.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2010
12
#12 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2010
22
#22 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 54 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 54
  3. Negative: 2 out of 54
  1. GamesRadar+
    100
    The streamlined, focused structure eliminates potential tedium without dumbing anything down, and the battle system strikes an elegant balance between strategy and fast-paced action. Stunningly beautiful graphics and a pervasively meticulous level of polish throughout only add to the experience.
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  2. Vandal
    92
    We can't assure it is a turning point in the series, but it manages to make fights fun and it's no doubt an outstanding game.
    Read full review
  3. Official Xbox Magazine
    90
    While the game's first 10 hours still give me pause, the 60 magnificent hours after those initial steps onto Cocoon make up for the tunnel-vision tutorial. [Apr 2010, p.68]
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